National Trails Day Hike on the Eddy-Ballentine/Blue River Glade Trails

Join Sierra Club on National Trails Day as we hike about two miles on the Eddy-Ballentine & Blue River Glades Trails. Sierra Club and JCP+R have been cutting/treating honeysuckle on this trail since 2021 - come see the amazing progress! The Eddy- Ballentine trail winds through an upland forest and connects to the Blue River Trail which is located on a glade. The Blue River Natural Area is a remnant of ecologically significant public land which is managed in conjunction with Jackson County Parks +Rec, Sierra Club & KC Wildlands. It is located in the heart of Kansas City providing “nearby nature” opportunities for all.

Located just south of Swope Park, this rare limestone glade community is one of the northernmost occurrences of such a community in Missouri and the best example existing locally. Gnarled chinquapin oaks nearly 300 years old sit atop slab-like outcroppings of Bethany Falls limestone. A prairie-like flora of grasses and wildflowers provides rich color and texture through most of the year. This community is managed through periodic prescribed burning. The glade is threatened by several exotic plant species, especially shrub honeysuckle.

What to Bring:
A water bottle full of water
Bug spray and sunscreen
Long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes or hiking boots (no sandals)
A jacket and a hat depending on the weather

Trail:
Type - horseshoe, in one trailhead and out the other
Elevation - short steep up at start and down at exit
Estimated Speed - 2 mph
Terrain - mix of dirt, rocks, roots & hillsides.

At sign-in, all participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard participant agreement you can read here, if you would like to read it b4 you choose to participate, www.tinyurl.com/sonsite

There are no vaccine, mask, or testing mandates.
If you're sick, please do not attend.
If you develop symptoms/illness during the trip, you may be removed for your and others' safety.
Knowing the above, it is your choice to attend the outing.

Check out this short video of one of our workdays by Nyvia DelaCruz, Jackson County Communications DPT who also took the above photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXb8e8PpD4z/

This video explains how and why we are getting rid of honeysuckle-
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+chainsqw+honeysuckle&&view=detail&mid=7B9E815CCBCF458704A77B9E815CCBCF458704A7&&FORM=VDRVSR

Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet 🌎
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

Why America must protect 30x30 (w/ Sen. Tom Udall, Dr. Enric Sala) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4VmOchhp8o